WOW. If asked to describe in one word the gun show I went to today, that word would be simply WOW. I’ve been going to this town’s gun shows for over 30 years now, four times a year, and this is the craziest I’ve ever seen it. Way more then even back in 1994. I stood in line, outside, in 15 degree temps for well over 30 minutes just to get in the place. Once inside, it took me another 30 minutes just to travel the length of one aisle of the first room.

Prices were insane. Colt AR15 rifles, $3000. RRA AR15, $2500 to $2800. Bushmaster AR15, $2200 to $2500. Insanity in action. There was however a dealer that is always there that specializes in RRA rifles and carbines that did not double their prices. At most, they raised their prices by 10% as compared to last Fall. Needless to say, they were selling RRA’s as fast as they could write up the BATF forms. I know they sold 10 of them in the short time I was in that part of the show.

The only .22LR that I saw was a couple beat up bricks of Winchester T22 with a price of $50 on them. Not one loaded .223 round could be found. 9mm was slim. .45acp was a bit better. A few boxes of .38 Special and .357 Mag. All with higher then normal prices.

Reloading components where flying out the door. Primers being sold by the 5000 count. But it looked like there was plenty.

I brought along a box of 380 rounds of 55gr. Wolf .223 to get rid of because my rifle prefers 62gr. I sold them within 5 minutes of being there. So I guess the trip was worth it. I asked $100 and the guy didn’t bat an eye. I could have gotten more I guess.

But, being the glutton for punishment that I am, I’ll probably go back tomorrow.

My experience at a gun show today was very similar. I was looking for a particular handgun, an SR9, and could not find even one. A couple of dealers said it seemed like everyone wanted a high capacity handgun. Prices on handguns didn't seem too bad and I didn't pay much attention to ARs and AR mags. The crowd was the biggest I've seen in nearly 40 years of attending gun shows at this location.

__________________
I told the new me,
"Meet me at the bus station and hold a sign that reads: 'Today is the first day of the rest of your life.'"
But the old me met me with a sign that read: "Welcome back."
Who you are is not a function of where you are. -Off Minor

Same here. I saw stripped AR lowers for $400 UP. Just months ago they were getting $125. Ammunition was being toted out on handcarts by the thousand. The ammo guy couldn't take peoples money fast enough! ARs were priced at nearly double their value. Absolutely INSANE!

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Mark Lane to William Buckley: "Have you ever referred to Jessee Jackson as an ignoramus?"
Buckley: "If I didn't, I should have"

DeYam!....last time I bought 22 at a gunshow, I bought a case - that's 25 boxes of 250 rounds each - a total of 6250 rounds, for $95..........I bought a few and now, after all these years, i am finally running low......but I will not pay $50/brick

Was that the fairgrounds show? I went there on Friday night. I arrived a half hour before the doors opened and was in a line at least a block long or longer. I was outside of the fairgrounds gate waiting in the line.
I fared better than I expected. I found a revolver I was looking for, a pound of powder and a like new Bianchi holster dirt cheap. The revovler was not cheap. I paid way more than I wanted to but decided to buy it anyway. It was the fourth show I had been to looking for nice S&W .357.
I did not see the volume of guns being sold as compred to the 3 other shows I have been to in the last month. I do not know if things are slowing down a little or the availablity was the reason.
Good show for me but very crowded.

Went to the same gun show again this morning. Found some .223 this time. Winchester white box, $15.00 for box of 20. Lake City M855 $1000.00 for case of 1000 rounds. Unbelievable. The last case of M855 I bought was $440.00 and I thought that was high.

There where still plenty of AR15 mags for $30.00 each. That was surprising.

Was at a show last week, couldn't even get to the ammo tables. Primers were double normal price. People carting around magazines like they were the last ones on earth. The attendance was probably 10-15 times normal if I had to guess.

Des Moines gun show got a little wild Friday afternoon......about an hour before it opened a dealer racked his personal carry .25 cal and shot himself in the hand. Needless to say he was thrown out and banned.

Prices were considerably higher, glad I'm not in the market for a black gun.

It was my impression the sponser (Trade Show Productions) prohibited loaded firearms and required plastic wire ties to prevent firing any firearm. Do you have the identity of the banned dealer? The show was so crowded it would have been nearly impossible to shoot a bad guy in self defnese without hitting an innocent victim.

We are eating our own! SIG SAUER had not raised the prices on thier rifles or pistols, just a 60 to 120 day wait to get any! Hopefully no interference by the anti gun left wing nuts, because I have seven SIG's on order!

Just had a show in the Philadelphia , Pa area , prices on AR's and AK's were also threw the roof , the dealers were catering to the last minute non informed buyer . $2700 for a 700 dollar AR and $1800 for a 400 dollar AK . The dealers were trying to feed me a load of crap when I was talking to them .
The prices will come down in a few months , the ammo will take a little longer .

This may be a good sign in the long run. It looks as if a whole bunch of Americans that have been "asleep" for years are finally waking up to the fact that their government is not representing them any more. Prices will fall eventually, not to the pre-December prices,unless another unfortunate incident causes more upheaval.

Let's not forget one other reason gun show prices are high - the company putting the show on has raised their table prices to new highs because they KNOW the place is going to be packed and folks will be selling a lot of stuff. If any of you have ever set up the white tent at a craft fair or similar know, spaces at these events can get VERY pricey - that, and the seller's gas, motel, food, etc. all have to be recouped as well

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